Light at the End (Part 4/?, collab with u/mrididnt)
[Previous part](https://www.reddit.com/r/wizardposting/s/pGXi2bIiOp)
*Music, celebrations and the world's largest traffic jam, that's the sight that welcomed Erik and ulrick when they returned from the realms.*
*Seems like Erik's children had caught wind of their return and hosted a welcome party, 10 tall armored ducks keep watch over Erik as he loses himself in the party, tossing gifts and souvenirs into the crowd, a couple of the more mature ducks arrange a truck to take Ulrick back home.*
*Ulrick broods in a dark spot bit away from the crowd, arms crossed as he leans against the wall.*
*He’s surveying the truck for him to home. Big celebrations aren’t really his style.*
*it's a good truck, a magic Toyota truck with a wide enough bed for Ulrick to be comfortable in, the driver gestures for him to get on. Before he would leave, Ulrick looks for Erik to say good bye. Which isn't hard, as he's standing on top of a car waving around, the crowd parts like water to allow the giant werewolf to get to him.*
Ulrick: “Erik, I’m about to leave. We’ll continue on the day after tomorrow.”
*He looks down at the wooden growths on his whole upper body. Hopefully he won’t be out of time by then…*
Erik: "see ya then! Meet me at the address my son will tell you on the way, I got a kid specialized in maps"
Ulrick: “Got it. Have fun!”
*Ulrick makes a short bow, then departs for the Toyota, the driver puts on music so loud it is heard all the way back in magic Sicily and drives off. The next two days pass by relatively quickly, Erik spends them catching up with the family while Ulrick broods on a rooftop under a stormy night, but eventually all good rests come to an end and they find themselves Infront ofthe office of a cartographer.*
Erik: "Alright my woody friend, did you bring the map?"
Ulrick: “It’s here.”
*Says Ulrick as he uncurls the map and puts in on the table between the three of them. the cartographer pulls out a magnifying glass and looks at the map for a solid minute, Erik eventually waves his hand Infront of him to break his thoughts.*
Cartographer: "you have done well to bring this to me... THIS.... is a map"
Ulrick: “Wow. Shocking.”
*Ulrick doesn’t even bother hiding his sarcasm at all.*
Erik (to Ulrick): "see Ulrick? I told you we should come here"
Erik (to cartographer): "I thought it was a newspaper and was wondering what the price of an oil barrel was, of course it's a map ducknilous! We wanna know what's INSIDE the map!"
*Ducknilous let's out an Ah of realization and reads the map again.*
Ducknilous: "yes yes... This map is somewhere near the mountains, you can see it here with these mountains and river"
"I’m gonna need to look over this more, can I keep the map for a couple days to get some help from my colleagues?"
Ulrick: “A couple more days??? We’re kinda running out ouf time…”
*Ulrick points at his tree-growths.*
Ducknilous: "fine... Just because you're my old man's friend, I'll use an insight scroll on this, should be done by the evening"
Ulrick: “…Thank you. Sorry about this outburst, just getting worried…”
Ducknilous: "yes yes, you may leave now, return by the evening, I'll take you to where it points"
*The cartographer says, shooing the duo out of his office.*
Erik: "...well that was convenient, I got a birthday party to catch, see ya!"
*Erik says then cartwheels away 2 kilometers over the speed limit.*
Ulrick: “Guess we’ll wait…”
*Ulrick goes into the nearest tavern to pass the time, but on his way to the tavern, a white van suddenly breaks and opens Infront of him, the door opens to a bucket of silver dust thrown at Ulrick.*
Ulrick: “Hey what the-“ *cough* *cough*
*Ulrick gets a nasty allergic reaction from the silver, swinging his arms around aimlessly as he’s disoriented, 2 masked orcs hop out to restrain Ulrick, then drag him into the van after throwing a paper bag on his head.*
*When the bag is removed Ulrick finds himself tied to a chair in a dark room, despite no one being there Ulrick can still feel eyes on him.*
*Whoever captured him was well aware of his weaknesses. This wasn’t something random…*
Ulrick: “So, will my captor ever reveal themselves? Ain’t got all day…”
*Ulrick can hear footsteps behind him, then a hand on his shoulder.*
Mafia guy: "mister Ulrick! It really pains me to do this, you do respectable work, my cousin used to go to an R&A soup kitchen, so let's do this the easy way shall we? Where's the map?"
*Ulrick tries to turn in a way to look at the hand.*
Ulrick: “Not even an introduction first?”
*the presence walks around Ulrick to face him, he looks Italian.*
Vinny: "oh right, where are my manners? I'm Vinny, and we'll be rather acquainted if you don't... How do they say it? Spill the beans?"
Ulrick: “Well, Vinny, can I ask why would a criminal need some map?”
Vinny: "sorry but that's a business secret"
*Vinny fiddles around with a bunch of tools, then settles on a tub of water that he places Infront of Ulrick.*
Vinny: "you see, we've been keeping an eye on you and your little friend, and we've heard about your little map, call it a collector's intuition, and my boss would really like to have it"
Ulrick: “And what if you’ve been wrong, and I know nothing about what kind of map you’re talking about?”
Vinny: "you see ulrick, I'm never wrong"
*Vinny cracks his knuckles and walks up to Ulrick, 20 minutes later they decide to switch up tactics, a second guy walks in, this one wearing an eye patch and missing an arm.*